As we come to the final chapter of the book of Joshua, we find Joshua making a final effort to lead the people of Israel. He wants to be sure that he has done all that he can to raise a godly generation. Joshua begins by reminding the Israelites of their history, of how God…

Have you ever reached the point, where you were facing something that was too big for you? Like Job, caught in the wake of crushing pain and loss. With breathtaking power the storm swept in and wiped away everything, leaving you with only broken pieces, and you find it hard trusting God again. Maybe you…

Have you ever seen a picture of a swan swimming with her babies on her back? It’s easy for the babies to keep up with their mom because they aren’t putting in any work, but are being pulled along by their parent’s strength. But what happens when their mother isn’t there to carry them anymore…

We’ve been working our way through the dry seasons of the Bible, finding the lessons of the wastelands, and clinging to a promise that He will walk through this season with us. As we come to Joshua 14 it almost feels like the end.

It’s easy to honor our friends, to be kind to those who are nice to us… but when a family member or friend lashes out and tries to destroy us it suddenly becomes a very different story. This is where we find David in 1st Samuel. This is our David, the boy that fought the giant Goliath and won. The shepherd boy anointed a king. David, the harpist called to sooth Saul in his most tortured hours. The boy who became like a brother to Saul’s own son and given the hand of his daughter in marriage because of his amazing victory in battle.

As we roll into Joshua 9 we find the Israelites in an encounter with travelers supposedly from a distant land begging for friendship. As we continue to read we discover the truth is these travelers are really from a neighboring city, but they’ve put together this grand ruse of packing dry moldy bread and putting on worn out clothes so it looks like they’ve been traveling a long way when in reality they are the neighbors. Scripture tells us that the Israelites sampled their supplies but didn’t seek the Lord’s will, and instead of seeing these travelers for what they are, they are taken in. They had all the right answers, they knew the right phrases to earn their trust and so the Israelites swear a treaty with them despite the fact the Lord told them to drive all the people in the land of Canaan out.

Have you ever noticed that when God tells us to do something or calls us to a place it doesn’t always make sense? The bible is filled with these moments, from God telling Moses to strike a rock for water to holding his staff over his head so the Israelites can claim the victory, or even when Jesus tells Peter to throw his nets into the water in the heat of the day. Often times the things we are called to, the places He leads us to look ridiculous to others and even ourselves.

I think for the most part when we come to Joshua 2 we tend to skip over Rahab’s profession or avoid Rahab entirely. We try to whitewash it a bit, maybe read over that bit of scripture a little faster, the wording can make us feel uncomfortable so we try to soften it.

Meet The Rosevine Cottage Girls

Hi we’re the Rosevine Cottage Girls, Brianna, Cheyenne, and Tracy. A Mother and twin daughters living in beautiful middle Tennessee with our veteran dad and husband Mr. Cottage. We’re always up to something here at Rosevine Cottage whether that is redecorating some space in the house, working in the garden, or playing with the animals. Read more…